Improved detection of polycyclic aromatic compounds in complex mixtures by liquid chromatographic fractionation on poly(divinylbenzene) prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Application to the analysis of diesel particulates.
Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) are preferentially retained over other compound classes during high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on poly(divinylbenzene) (PDVB) columns with a dichloromethane mobile phase. PAC retention during HPLC with PDVB/CH2Cl2 is governed by a multi-mode mechanism that has been previously described. This enhanced retention of PACs makes PDVB columns useful for isolating a PAC fraction from highly complex mixtures such as the emissions from fossil-fuels combustion. The cleaned-up PAC fraction yields a simple chromatogram with easily identified and quantified peaks without significant compound loss or danger of contamination. We illustrate the use of this clean-up method for the isolation of the PAC fraction from a standard reference diesel particulate sample.
Jiao
K
K
Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Core Laboratory in Analytical Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139, USA.
Lafleur
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AL
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008752:Methylene Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013343:Styrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D013343:Styrenes; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D008752:Methylene Chloride; C056745:poly(divinylbenzene)